In the end you might stand up and applaud for Irrfan Khan! What a deadly performance. ‘Kaho haan’. Yes, this movie could become a life changing one for Irrfan. Enough of selling prepaid cards (Vodafone ad) and Life Insurance policies (remember Kya aap kam insurance lene ki bimaari ke shikaar hai wala ad?), Paan Singh Tomar could be his career best performance, also for the fact that he is the lead, the movie revolved around him and he’s hardly ever out of the the screen.
Summary: This is a movie about an athlete (from Indian Army) who becomes a rebellion in Chambal area (Madhya Pradesh) due to the rift created by his relatives over their fields.
Initially you may find it difficult to follow what they are saying as it’s not exactly hindi, but then English subtitles will be helpful but soon you would wish the subtitles disappear as it attracts unwanted attention and you sometimes miss out on the actual movie! ‘Kaho haan’
The first part where he tries to run for everything and anything, is extremely hilarious (portrayed as someone who wants to run as he would get to eat as much as he wants). He gets into Army athletics and win a lot of medals for India, another funny scene is where in Japan (he goes there as part of the Indian sports delegate) a Japanese fan says his name as ‘Paaan Saang’. But soon it becomes serious enough as he is not sent to the war zone coz he is not considered a real army man but only a National Athletic Treasure!
Your blood will boil when he goes to the police station stating he has done so much for the country and all he is expecting is dignity and security for his family and fields and the inspector insults him to the core. It’s a touching scene.
Mahie Gill’s performance is commendable, I always thought she has the village girl look and she has been rightly played here as PST’s wife. How dark have they made her look 🙂 she carried her role perfectly well. Funny scene: When PST says I broke a world record, she innocently says ‘now what have you broken and come’!
All the other junior artists have also done a beautiful work, you will get reminded of ‘Peepli Live‘ at time due to the same reason and similar set up. The innocent journalist who comes to interview PST on the roof top, will demand your affection! ‘Kaho haan’.
Since it’s a true story and the emotions portrayed properly, you will feel what they are feeling, the team effort is commendable.
But all in all nothing beats Irrfan Khan’s deadly dedication to his role and performance, Tigmanshu Dhulia definitely did an excellent job in directing this movie! You will feel the pain yourself as to why Paan Singh took this route and why he became what he become.
Paan Singh Tomar is a must watch and is dedicated to the unsung heroes of Indian Sports who have been humiliated and left penniless for dying. You will love the emotions, the initial humor it brings in and will share the right intentions of making this movie. [He always uses this ‘kaho haan’ at the right places, hence my usage!]
Great Movie…Great effort to bring the Bitter Truth of Indian Sportsman …other than Cricket….. Go watch
India come up from Cricket ….
I actually watched the movie after reading your review. Thanks for Sharing 🙂
P.S:
I feel your reviews are getting more interesting and a reader would be Glued till he reads whole of it.
Thank you Aditi! Yes, with a country obsessed with cricket, this movie is an eye opener! It's so true that most of the other sportsperson do not get the basic facilities and treatment to become a world class athlete! With so much money being eaten up in corruption, the true gems of the country are being ignored!
Kunal, you are just too kind to me! 🙂 But seriously, thankyou so much for your appreciation, means a lot to a budding movie reviewer! 🙂 Well, what do I say, keep reading my reviews and you will never go watch a movie which you never thought you would! Thanks a ton dude!